MIXING WORK AND FUN

Well, it’s been some time since Night Fury and I have been on the road in any serious way. We left home on Monday, July 25th, headed for Kelowna. Saphi and Scamp are also along for the adventure, and of course, Tracey's crystal and other talismans accompany us as well. We got away late, which wasn’t a bad thing as it split the trip into 2 days and I’m out of shape for road-tripping. This also meant I had time for the most scenic route. 

The ride from Horseshoe Bay to Pemberton was lovely with little traffic. It was 37 degrees by the time I arrived in Pemberton, so it was time to stop for a break and fill up with gas. The road between Pemberton and Lillooet is a rider’s dream with never ending curves and beautiful scenery.  Unfortunately for the first third of it, Fury and I got stuck behind a camper van that had never seen a curve before in its life and we plodded along at 30 for far too long. Eventually hit a stretch and got by the van, leaving the rest of the piled up cars to deal with it as they might. Now being able to seriously stretch our legs, Fury and I carved our way through those curves and revelled in them. The temperature shifts through the mountains were remarkable and often welcome, dropping 15 degrees in some areas and giving us a break from the oppressive heat.

Arriving in Lillooet around 7, with the heat climbing to 38, it was time for another break. Took a good long one, having a snack and lots of water. Met Mervyn and Tracy and their friends from Manitoba that had done a big trip out to the coast and were on their way back. We had a great little chat and it was so fun to meet people out on the road again. I was so busy enjoying their company that I forgot to take a picture! This little encounter refreshed me and Fury and I continued on to Cache Creek where we would stop for the night. What a dream to be travelling the road between Lillooet and Cache Creek with practically zero traffic. More curves and good pavement, though we kept our speed down with it now being peak deer time. 

Left Cache Creek early the next morning.  In true Alyson style, I took the wrong road leaving town and instead of it being 71 kms to Kamloops, it was 171. A better mistake was never made, though.  Again, stunning scenery, sweeping curves and almost zero traffic! By the time we hit Kamloops, the temperatures were again climbing swiftly and Fury was humming along like she does, so we topped up with gas and kept riding. Got stopped at Salmon Arm with construction and sweltered in the line for awhile before we could scoot off down the side roads and take the back road into Vernon.  Then on to Kelowna, arriving too early to check into the hotel. This meant I could stop at Kelowna Powersports and see about getting Fury’s left signal light fixed.  Struck gold in that they had time to look at it and could get me in to have it fixed while I was still in town!  So I left Fury there and my friend came and took me to the hotel where I waited in the blissfully cool lobby for check-in.

I had planned to deliver my training days in Kelowna and Penticton and then do a big ride over the long weekend up through Valemount, Tumbler Ridge, Grand Prairie, Icefields and back down to Nakusp. That plan was swiftly revised with temperatures of 38-40 degrees in the various areas and my realization that I can’t do 600 kms a day right now. So I hung out with my friends Blair and Mary for 3 days and got spoiled rotten. Fed 3 times a day, dips in their pool, toured around town in an air conditioned vehicle, my own bedroom in their air conditioned house. Being too hot to do much outside, we went for a bit of a walk and then toured fancy homes in the area. I even got to dip my toe in a pool that wasn't built yet.  :)

Not wanting to wear out my welcome, I moved on to Jason and Yuki’s on Sunday and stayed 2 nights with them. Spoiled rotten again!  Food and touring and cherries and peaches. Jason introduced me to wine slushies....sooo good....and I don't even like wine.  It will take some time to adjust back to plebian life. I also felt validated that I'm not a complete reprobate because ALL of the pets liked me - even Jason and Yuki's ragdoll cat who is afraid of everyone came out and let me love him up. 

The plan was then to go to Nakusp on Tuesday where I would have some meetings with clients and deliver more training before my motorcycle event this weekend.  Between Vernon and the Farquier ferry, I stopped for a break and went to look up my hotel reservation confirmation.  Didn’t have one.  Called the hotel – no reservation.  Not sure who screwed up. Probably me as I was juggling a number of balls before I left home.  Other hotels were outrageous, and availability was poor, so I searched around and found a reasonable at the Bulldog Hotel in Silver Star.  So I re-scheduled with my clients for the on-site meetings and Fury and I turned around to head back. The road from Vernon to Silver Star is short, but lovely and the temperatures have settled down to something civilized.  I can recommend the Bulldog Hotel.  Spacious room, bed is amazing, lots of pillows (which is close to my heart), great shower, friendly people.  It is off-season here, of course, with skiing giving way to mountain biking, so it is reasonably quiet.  I was able to catch up with my longtime friend Rodger who is at least partially responsible for my motorbike addiction. Blair and Jason can take some responsibility for that as well.

This morning Fury and I hit the road again. Temperatures are so civilized (9 degrees) in Silver Star, that we have waited a bit before heading out as my mesh gear isn't quite up to temps quite that cool. We are headed for Nakusp where we will join a bunch of other fabulous individuals for the Throttle West Moto Campout event this weekend at Rider’s Retreat.  Yes, I’m camping.  Sort of.  You’ll see when I get there.  😊

Enjoy the few pictures I have indulged in over the last week. Not as many as usual as I have just been enjoying the ride and letting my mind rest.  Have a great weekend everyone!